Trump Can Launch Nukes—And No, Nobody Can Stop Him

In just over a month, Donald J. Trump will become the 45th President of the United States. As Chief Executive, he will have power unmatched not only in Washington but the entire world. The most solemn and terrifying of his responsibilities will be the judicious custodianship of American's nuclear arsenal, all 1,367 nuclear weapons current deployed on American ships, bombers, and ballistic missiles— ready for use.

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Yes, he can use them. That much is obvious. But could anyone stop him if they wanted to? Well, no. And the system was built that way on purpose.

Nuclear scholar Alex Wellerstein, writing for The Washington Post, explains that America's nuclear protocols evolved during the course of the Cold War. During the 1950s, President Eisenhower "pre-delegated" the use of tactical, low-yield nukes to his generals, in case the Red Army rolled towards Paris. Under certain clearly-defined circumstances, they could use nukes without asking anyone's permission.

The experience of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which many feared would spiral out of control into all-out nuclear warfare, caused policymakers to reconsider pre-delegation. Ultimate command authority was turned over to the President, and the President alone. While individuals in the complex chain between the Oval Office and Minuteman III Launch Control Centers might refuse the orders, they are trained not to and to acknowledge the President's authority. Regardless of who is sitting behind the button, it might be wise to evaluate the process one more time.

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